Device for forming paper boxes



Oct. 3, 1950 J. F. PAGENDARM DEVICE FOR FORMING PAPER BOXES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 22, 1945 INVENTOR. John F Page darm BY Oct. 3, 1950 J. F. PAGENDARM 2,524,133

DEVICE FOR FORMING PAPER BOXES Filed Jan. 22, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

dob/7 F Page/10'0" Oct. 3, 1950 J, P ND M 2,524,133

DEVICE FOR FORMING PAPER BOXES Filed Jan. 22, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet s l E INVENTOR.

Jo/w F Pagendarm /7 may Oct. 3, 1950 J. FQPAGENDARM DEVICE FOR FORMING PAPER BOXES 4 Sheets-Sheet. 4

Filed Jan. 22, 1945 INVENTOR. John F Payenc/arm Patented Oct. 3 1950 DEVICE FOR FORMING PAPER BOXES John F. Pagendarm, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Bemiss-Jason Company, a copartnership consisting of Robert P. Bemiss and W. E. Jason, Jr.

Application January 22, 1945, Serial No. 573,951

Claims.

This invention relates to a device for assembling a box blank, particularly one having sides and ends, each provided with means enabling adjacent sides and ends to be interlocked to form a tray or boX.

In the packaging of bakery products such as doughnuts and the like, the products are generally placed in a tray or box and then wrapped, these operations being performed by machine. Heretofore it has been necessary to assemble the box or tray by hand, a comparatively slow, tedious and expensive operation. The machine of the present invention enables the box or tray to be assembled rapidly, automatically, and as part of a production line operation.

It is generally the broad object of the present invention to provide a machine for interlocking the sides and ends of a box or tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel machine of the character described.

The invention includes other objects and features of advantage, some of which, together with the foregoing will appear hereinafter wherein a present preferred embodiment of the machine is disclosed. In the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete machine.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section. of the machine.

- Figure 3 is an end elevation of the machine.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a suitable tray which can be advantageously handled in the machine of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective illustrating the plungers and rollers employed in assembling the tray shown in Figure 4.

Figures 6 and '7 are fragmentary plan views illustrating steps in the assembly operation, while Figure 8 is a side elevation of one corner of the tray in Figure 4 when the latter is assembled with its sides and ends interlocked.

Referring to the drawings, a suitable frame, generally indicated at 6, is provided. This frame and other operative parts of the machine are enclosed in the housing generally indicated at 1. Because the construction of the machine will become further apparent upon a consideration of the several operations which are to be performed on a box or tray and the manner in which these are actually performed, I will proceed directly to a disclosure of the box blank assembly means provided.

Referring to Figure 4, a suitable box blank is indicated generally by numeral H. The blank includes opposite ends l2 and I4, opposite sides in Figures'5, 6 and 7.

I 6 and I1 and bottom 18. Each end is movable into a vertical position with respect to the bottom of the tray about score line 2|. The sides [6 and I! are also movable into a vertical position with respect to the bottom I8 about score lines 22; Adjacent portions of each end and each side are separated by cuts 23, while each end carries a locking tab 24, defined by cuts and 56 and adapted to be moved in over tab 49 formed by cut 26 in the adjacent end until cuts 56 and 2B are engaged as in Figure 8. As appears in Figure 4, cut 26 and cut 56 are at to each other and cut 26 extends at least up to the circle on which cut 55 falls, the circle having its center at the point of intersection of crease lines 2 l-22. When the side, end and bottom in each corner are 90" to each other, cuts 56 and 26 will engage in a line-to-line contact, providing a secure lock for each corner of a tray or box.

The tray blank so far described does not form any part of the present invention, providing the subject matter of Patent No. 2,366,419 issued J anuary 2, 1945 to Reginald B. Meller. The blank has been described in some detail because the machine of the present invention ,is peculiarly adapted to its assembly. However, other like blanks and box blanks can be assembled and the machine is not limited in utility only.to the bearings (not shown) provided in transverse parallel frame members 38 and 39. The frame members 33 and 34 are spaced apart the exact length of the blank H, and rollers 3| and 32 have their major peripheral edges spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the bottom I8. Stops 4! are provided just beyond roller 3| to engage one edge of the box blank and position it with the bottom r 18 in exact position above the rollers 31 and 32.

A plunger structure generally indicated by numeral 42 is mounted above the rollers and includes plate 43 which corresponds in size to the bottom l8 ofv the-blank. Wings 44 extend up from the plate 43 on each side thereofwith fingers 46 extending outwardly at each corner of the plate slightly beyond. the edge of the plate as appears With a box blank in. position, plunger 42 is lowered to bring plate 43 into engagement with a pair of Y 3 the bottom l8 of a positioned blank which is then perfectly flat. Continued movement of the plunger forces sides i6 and H upwardly as the blank is forced down between rollers 3| and 32, the sides It and H rotating until they extend up along wings 44. Each of the fingers 46 are effective to force outwardly portions of sides l6 and I1 intermediate the cuts 26 as appears in Figure '7, each of rollers 3| and 32 being suitably recessed as at 51 to permit this portion of the.

side to extend outwardly beyond the edge of the side. At the same time, shoulder 52 on each roller holds tab 38 in place to permit tab 24 on the adjacent end to enter between the spread open side portions and engage the rear face on each of the fingers 46 until the tab 24 is behindthe open and extended portion of cut 25. Continued downward movement of the plunger brings ends l2 and I4 into engagement with rollers 36 and 3'L'rocking the ends upwardly about the edges of plate Kat-until the locking tab 24 moves in past tab 49*to bring cuts 56 into register with cut 26 as appears in Figure 6 and so look the corner of the tray as in Figure 8. This operation occurs simul-v taneouslyat each of the corners of the tray. The plunger continues its downward movement until it has, passed beyond stripper plates 58 (Figure 2)", supported on frame members 38 and 39. At this point theplunger returns, lifting the assembled tray slightly until sides l6 and I! engage the stripper plates 58; the assembled tray then. falling onto a conveyor belt 6i to be removed. The operation is one which can be performed very rapidly, the rollers rotating freely and passing each blank with ease.

' While the plunger can be reciproated manually, I prefer to accomplish this automatically and by application of power from a prime mover. Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5, plate 43-is supported by rods 68 from plunger 42. Spring guides H engage opposite sides of the upper portion of frame 6 to guide the plunger 42'for' reciprocation. Two rods l2 extend downwardly from the plunger through suitable apertures in the frame 6 to provide a reciprocating mounting forthe plunger. The rods are joined by a cross shaft ll} extending transversely of the frame 6. At each end of shaft H3 one end of alever I3 is engaged. The. other end of each of the levers 1-3 is-mounted on a crank arm ,14 carried on each end of ashaft 16, the plunger being reciprocated as shaft 76 is rotated. Asuitable source of power, such asan electric motor fl, is provided to rotate shaft 76, the motor driving pulley 1'8. variable speed drive, generally indicated by numeral 19, is driven by a belt 8| passed about one of itspulleys andabout the motor pulley 18. The

adjustment of the variable speed drive can be varied by altering the size of the pulley wheel 83 by rotating hand wheel 82 to provide the assembly rate desired. The variable speed drive unit includes a pulley 83 driving belt 84 which extends. about pulley 86 on countershaft ill mounted for rotation in frame 6. Spur gearSB is carried on the countershaft and drives gear 89 onshaft 76 which carries the crank arms M.

Means are provided for moving the conveyor belt'fil which is extended aboutspaced rollers 9| and 92, the latter being carried upon a shaft 93. A sprocket 94 mounted on shaft 93 is driven by a chain 96 which also'extends about sprocket El on'a shaft 88. Shaft 98 is driven by. a sprocketj 7 4 plunger is in elevated position. This means in cludes the several guides I05 which support the blank as it slides into position, end plates I08 which align the blanks correctly and spring guides I07 which guide the tray blank down into place. Several spaced pusher arms, generally indicated by numeral Ill], are positioned to push each tray blank into place while the plunger is raised. These include the pushers H0 and pusher arms H5, pivotally mounted as at lll upon levers H2 which are in turn secured to shaft H4. Shaft IE4 is oscillated, the pushers H0 being moved in against the bias supplied by springs H6 by crank arm Hl carried on shaft 98. Shaft 98 carries a crank arm ll'l. During a portion of its travel, roller H8 on the end of crankxarm H7 is brought into engagement with lever 12!, adjustably mounted by studs 122 on an end of lever l23 which is fixed on shaft 1 l4. As shaft 98 is rotated the pushers are actuated to push into position a tray blank during that period when the plunger is moving into and is returning from the dotted line position shown in Figure 2.

The entire machine is suitably housed as is indicated in Figures 1 and 2, the plunger mechanism being enclosed by a safety housing inof rollers having a shoulder adjacent each end thereof and being recessed immediately adjacent to'andintermediate of the shoulders to admit aside of a box blank, and a plunger for engaging a box bottom and forcing said ends and sides to engage said roller pairs successively.

2; Means for folding a blank into tray form, said blankhaving 'abottom, a pair of sides and a pa ir of -ends, each end having a tab thereon adapted to be inserted into a cooperative cut on each-side to engage said side out in a locking relationship, saidmeans comprising a first pair of p'arallel rollers spaced apart a distance equal to the width of said blank bottom from one side to the other, a secondpair of parallel rollers arranged transversely of the first roller pair in a plane below that of the first roller pair and adjacent the ends thereof and spaced apart a distance equal to the length of said blank bottom from one end to the other, each of said; first pair of rollers beingrecessed cooperatively thereto, a plunger for forcing said blank over said rollers, and means on said plunger for forcing said first cut defining portion into each,

roller recess.

3 Means for folding a blank into tray form," said-blank having af bottom, a pair of sides and a' pacer; ends, eachf end having a tab thereon adapted t be inserted into a cooperative out on each sideto engagesaid side cut in a-locking relationship, said means coinpr i'sing a first pair of parallel rollers spaced apart a distance equal tothe width of said blank bottom from one side to the other, a second air of parallel rollers. positioned transverse to and below the ends of said first pair of rollers and spaced apart a distance equal to the length of said blank bottom from one end-to the other, each of said first pair of rollers being recessed cooperativeliy adjacent each side out to admit a first portion of said side definingv said out and to retain the second cut defining portion in aspaced relation thereto, a plunger forforcing said blank over said. rollers, and means on said plunger for forcing said first cut defining portion int each roller recess.

4. Means for folding a blank into tray form, said blank having a bottom, a pair of sides and a pair of ends, each end having a tab thereon adapted to be inserted into a cooperative cut on each side to engage said side out in a locking relationship, said means comprising a first pair of parallel rollers spaced apart a distanceequal to the width of said blank bottom from one, side to the other, a second pair of parallel rollers arranged transversely of the first roller pair in a plane below that of the first roller pair and adjacent the ends thereof and spaced apart a distance equal to the length of said blank bottom from one end to the other, each of said first pair of rollers being recessed cooperatively adjacent each side cut to admit a first portion of said side defining said cut and to retain the second cut defining portion in a spaced relation thereto, a plunger for engaging said blank bottom and having a finger thereon near each corner thereof to force said first cut defining portion into said roller recess, and means for moving said plunger from a position above said rollers down to, through and below said rollers to fold and look a blank.

5. Means for folding a blank into tra form, said blank having a, bottom, a pair of sides and a pair of ends, each end having a tab thereon adapted to be inserted into a cooperative cut on each side to engage said side cut in a locking 7 relationship, said means comprising a first pair of parallel blank folding means spaced apart a distance equal to the width of said blank bottom from one side to the other, a second pair of parallel blank folding means positioned transverse to the ends of said first pair of blank folding means and spaced apart a distance'equal to the length of said blank bottom from one end to the other, each of said first pair of blank folding means being recessed cooperatively adjacent each side out to admit a first portion of said side defining said cut and to retain the second cut defining portion in a spaced relation thereto, a plunger for forcing said blank past said blank folding means, and means on said plunger for forcing said first cut defining portion into each blank folding means recess.

6. Means for folding a blank into tray form, said blank having a bottom, a. pair of sides and a pair of ends, each end having a tab thereon adapted to be inserted into a cooperative cut on each side to engage said side out in a locking relationship, said means comprising a first pair of parallel blank folding means spaced apart a distance equal to the distance across said blank bottom from .one side to the other, a second pair of parallel blank folding means arranged trans versely of said first pair of folding means and defining said out and to retain the second out defining portion in a spaced relation thereto, a plunger for engaging said blank bottom and having a finger thereon at each corner thereof said finger extending towards said second fold. ing means adapted to force with its outside, sur-.

face said first cut defining portion into said blank folding means recess, andto receive underneath its inside surface a portion of said tab.

7. A device for converting a cut and'scored fiat box blank into hollow box form, said blank having a bottom, sides along opposite edges of the bottom and ends along other opposite edges of the bottom, the ends having lock flaps thereon at each end thereof, each of said sides having a cut therein adapted to be engaged in locking relationship by a cooperatively positioned cut edge on a lock fiap when the lock flap is in a face-to-face position with the side; said device including a die and a plunger movable through the die for forcing a blank through said ,die; said die including parallel side members, spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of said bottom, adapted to fold said sides with respect to said bottom into a position wherein said sides are substantially upright with respect to said bottom when said plunger forces a blank into the die; cooperative means on said side members and on said plunger, respectively, for flexing each box side to open each of said cuts during the traverse of the'blank through the die; said die including parallel end members for folding said ends with respect to the bottom and for moving said lock flaps between said die side members and the folded sides into a position wherein each lock flap is face-to-face with the adjacent side wall portion and the cut edge of each lock flap engages a portion of said wall cut in' a locking engagement.

8. A device for converting a cut and scored tothe main panel along a first score line, said first panel having a cut therein adapted to be,

opened upon flexing of said first panel at either side of said cut, a second box panel connected to the main panel along a second score line extending at an angle to said first score line, a lock flap hingedly connected to said second panel, said flap having a cut edge thereon formedto engage at least a portion of saidcut in edge-toedge engagement, said lock fiap being foldable into a position in which it lies face to face, with said first panel; said device comprising a die, and a plunger movable through said die, said plunger having 'a base surface for engaging said main panel, said die having members for em gaging and folding said first and second panels and for moving said lock flap into face-to-face position with respect to said first panel, and cooperative means on said die and on said plunger for flexing said firstpanel to open said out, said cooperative members including a pro-. jection on said plunger extendingcbeyond the confines of said base surface of the plunger.

9. A device for converting a cut and'scored fiat box blank into hollow box form,-said blank having a main panel, aifirst box panel connected to the main panel along a first score line, said first panel having a cuttherein adapted to be opened upon flexing of said first panel at either side of said'cut, a second box panel. connected to the main panel along asecondscore line extendingat an angle to said first score line, a lock flap hingedly connected to said second panel,

arse -13s 7- said flap havingza cut edge thereon formed to engage. at least a portion of said out in edge-to edge engagement, said lock flap being. fold-able into: a position inlwhi'ch it lies face to face with said first panel; said device comprising a die, and" a plunger movable through said die, said plunger having a base surface for engaging said.

mainpanel, said die having members for engaging-and folding said first and second panels and for moving said lock fiap into face-to-face position with respect to said first panel, and cooperative means on said die and on said plunger for flexing said first panel to open said out, said cooperative members including a blade-shaped projection on said plunger extending beyond the confines of said base surface of the plunger, said projection having an outer surface adapted to bear against said first panel and an inner surface spaced so as to permit the lock flap to pass underneath the inner surface.

10. A device for converting a cut and scored flat box blank into hollow box form, said blank having a main panel, a first box panel connected to the main panel along a first score line, said first panel having a cut therein adapted to be opened upon flexing of said first panel on either side of said out, a second box panel connected to the main panel along a second score line extending at an angle to said first score line, a lock flap hingedly connected to said second panel, said flap having a cut edge thereon formedto engage at least a portion of said out in edge-to-edge engagement, said lock flap being foldable into a position in which it lies face to face with said first panel; said device comprising a die, and a plunger movable through said die, said plunger having a base surface for engaging said main panel, said die having members for engaging and folding said first and second panels and for moving said lock flap into face-to-face position with respect to said first panel, and cooperative means on said die and on said plunger for flexing said first panel to open said cut, said cooperative members including a projection on said plunger extending beyond the confines of said base surface of the plunger, said projection being adapted to bear against said first panel in a position out of reach of said lock flap as said flap moves into engaging position whereby free movement of said flap remains unimpeded.

11. A device for converting a cut and scored fiat blank into hollow box form, said blank having a bottom panel, side panels along opposite side edges of the bottom panel, end panels along opposite end edges of the bottom panel; and lock flaps on each end Of said end panels, each of said side panels having a cut therein adapted to be engaged in locking relationship by a cooperatively positioned cut edge on a lock flap when said lock flap is in face-to-face position with one of said side panels; said device including a die and a plunger movable through the die for forcing a blank through the die, said plunger having a base surface adapted to engage said bottom panel, said die including'o'ppositeside members spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of the bottom panel adapted to fold said side panels with respect to said bottom panel into box forming position when said plunger forces a blank into the die; cooperative means on said side members and on said plunger, respectively, for flexing each side panel to open each of saidcuts for entry of a port on of said lock flap into said cuts when .the plunger forces said blank into the die,

said cooperative means including projections on" said plunger extending beyond the confines of said base surface, said die' further including opposite end members for folding said end panels with respect to the bottom panel and for moving said lock flaps between said side members and the folded side panels into a position wherein each lock flap is face to face with the adjacent side wall panel and the cut edge of each lock flap engages a portion of said side panel out in looking engagement, a portion of the lock flap extending through said out.

12. A device for converting a cut and scored flatblank into hollow box form, said blank having a bottom panel, side panels along opposite side edges of the bottom panel, end panels along opposite end edges of the bottom panel, and lock flaps on each end of said end panels, each of said side panels having a cut therein adapted to be engaged in looking relationship by a cooperativelyipositioned cut edge on a lock flap when said lock flap is in face-to-face position with one of said side panels; said device including a die and a plunger movable through the die for forcing a and the folded side panels into a position wherein each lock flap is face to face with the adjacent side Wall panel, said side members having inclined surfaces thereon for guiding said lock flaps towards a faoe-to-face position with respect to said side panels, said plunger and die further including cooperative means on said side members and on said plunger, respectively, for flexing each side panel to open each of said cuts for entry of a portion of said lock flap into said cuts when the plunger forces the blank into the die, said cooperative means including projections on said plunger.

13. A device for converting a cut and scored fiat blank into hollow box form, said blank having a bottom panel, side panels along opposite side edges of the bottom panel, end panels alongv opposite end edges of the bottom panel, and lock flaps on each end of said end panels, each of said side panels having a cut therein adapted to be engaged in looking relationship by a cooperatively positioned cut edge on a lock flap when said lock flap is in face-to-face position with one of said side panels; said device including a plunger movable in a straight line path, a pair of side folding members spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of the bottom panel and arranged to either Side of the plunger path in a plane substantially normal to the plunger path, a pair of end folding members spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length of the bottom panel substantially normal to the plunger path and substantially in a position with respect to the pair of side folding members, the

plane of the end folding members being spaced the plunger moves the blank towards and past said side folding members, said plunger engaging said bottom panel and cooperating with said end folding members to fold said end panels with respect to said bottom panel and to force said lock flaps over said side panels and into said opened cuts to interlock said lock flaps with said side panels in edge-to-edge position of said cuts and cut edges, the lock flaps lying face to face with said side panels.

14. A device for converting a cut and scored flat box blank into hollow box form, said blank having a main panel, a first box panel connected to the main panel along a first score line, said first panel having a cut therein adapted to be opened upon flexing of said first panel on either side of said out, a second box panel connected to the main panel along a second score line extending at an angle to said first score line, a lock flap hingedly connected to said second panel, said flap having a cut edge thereon formed to engage at least a portion of said out in edge-to-edge engagement, said lock flap being foldable into a position in which it lies face-to-face with said first panel; said device comprising a die, and a 1:

plunger movable through said die, said plunger having a base surface for engaging said main panel, said die having members for engaging and folding said first and second panels and for moving said lock flap into face-to-face position with respect to said first panel, cooperative means on said die and on said plunger for flexing said first panel to open said out, said cooperative members including a projection on said plunger, and means on said die for engaging an edge of a panel of the,

positioned cut edge on a lock flap when said lock flap is in face-to-face position with one of said side panels; said device including a die and a plunger movable through the die for forcing a blank from one side of the die, through the die to the other side of the die, said die including opposite side members spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of the bottom panel adapted to fold said side panels with respect to the bottom panel into box forming position when said plunger forces the blank into the die, opposite end members for folding said end panels with respect to the bottom panel and for moving said lock flaps between said side members and the folded side panels into a position wherein each lock flap is face to face with the adjacent side wall panel, said side members having inclined surfaces thereon for guiding said lock flaps towards a faoe-to-face position with respect to said side panels, said plunger and die further including cooperative means on said side members and on said plunger, respectively, for flexing each side panel to open each of said cutsfor entry of a portion of said lock fiap into said cuts when the plunger forces the blank into the die,said cooperative means including projections on said plunger extending beyond the confines of said base surface, said end members extending beyond the width of said end panels to engage said lock flaps at their folded edges, whereby force to insert said lock flaps into said cuts is exerted on said flaps in the plane of the stock of the flaps. JOHN F. PAGENDARM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

